First of all David let me say how happy I am to see this section in the hands of someone who understands the needs of Land Rover owners.
Now: Last weekend my Sister visited and on a day of very dense fog was out in the Range Rover {The US Spec of 1989 is that of a Top of the line all options fitted Vogue I think but it does of course have Cats fitted and runs on unleaded (All we have been able to get over her for about 10 years now)} Well she left the fog lights on when she got home and yesterday when I went to use it I found the Battery stone dead I put it on a smart charger for 24 hours and this AM all was well (after I recoded the OEM radio Cassette) except that the EFI light is ON... car is running perfectly and I ran it by a friends place that does the Local equivalent of a MOT he checked all the numbers from the Dynamometer He had run for said (passed) test last month and if anything they were a touch better...
The RR Manual says that the \"fix\" is to replace the computer under the passenger seat... Now this is a bit of rather expensive kit to just bang in... and as this model of computer was only used (as far as the US market is concerned) in 1989 when they imported only 1500 or so units as they began their reentry to the US after a 20 year absence) it is not found at the breakers either... (I am told it was also used by one of the US spec Jaguars that year as well but no luck yet finding out which one... It is a different computer to that used in the 1989 V-8 range Rovers anywhere else in the world due to the US Emission laws I think). My Guess is the the totally Flat Battery has done something to the computer as my gentle 24 hour recharge should have precluded any surge damage that a jump start might have caused.
So before I resort to the Homer Simpson \"Fix\" of a patch of black electrical tape over the warning light... I place myself in the hands of the back room. And oh yes I intend to get another 13 years out of this RR unless US Fuel Prices rise to the levels you endure.
Randolph Lee
Nantucket Island, U.S.A.
|
Randolph,
Thanks for your comments. Support for older Land Rovers was nicely established in the old forum so that was a good base to move on from. Actually I think this is a chance for everyone/thing to have a fresh start and be judged on its/their merits in the new arena.
To that end I get my first Freelander on the books at the end of the month...what will I think?
I'm afraid your RR ECU is somewhat outside my experience but over here the first thing we would do would be get it tested by a specialist. So often the fault isn't actually the ECU and in broad terms they can be reliable for years. I would be crossing fingers for a simple connection or sensor fault.
David W [Moderator]
----------------------------
mailto:david_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk
|
Well I can live in hope... I can take my 1948 CJ-2A Jeep with it's 4 cyl flathead engine apart almost in my sleep repair almost anything with bailing wire and duck tape and make it run on just 2 pots on a fuel little better than high grade paraffin... but as far as the DYI folks like me I hardly think modern electronics are a huge advance...
If it is the computer it is a rare bird indeed and i would doubt that there were more than say 3000 to 5000 of them imported between RR and Jaguar in 1989... RR wants about £1200 for one on an exchange basis only and if your core (old unit) is rejected that just abo0ut doubles...
I just wonder if there is some hidden reset switch I could try... as the event is so attached to the flat battery.
Randolph Lee
Nantucket Island, U.S.A.
|
Randolph
An outside chance that you can reset is this. Disconnect the battery and then connect the two battery leads together to fully 'devolt' the ECU. I believe this is sometimes recommended for resetting electronic items. Alternatively, unplug the ECU to remove it completely from its power supply.
Your flat battery would have retained a small voltage, and the ECU may not have completely reset.
Regards
John
PS I've small job on this weekend - checking the dwell angle and timing on a neighbours 1943 Willys Jeep.
|
Thanks John, I will give that a try...
Ref the job on the 1942 Willys MB you will be amazed at how easy it is
Randolph Lee
Nantucket Island, U.S.A.
|
Randolph
Yes, I've done this on the Jeep a couple of times. Points are easy with a dwell meter, but the timing isn't so easy, as the marks are on the flywheel.
I end up using a mirror in the engine bay to see the marks - which I've now illuminated with white paint!
Regards
John
Regards
John S
|
|
|
|
"To that end I get my first Freelander on the books at the end of the month...what will I think?"
David *Now* we know why the forum has split into different sections - don't think your fellow moderator will fail to notice this!
Best wishes, and happy moderating - you and Mark are made for it (or vice versa, or both!).
Jack
|
|
|
>>To that end I get my first Freelander on the books at the end of the month
I noticed.
|
I think the ECU has recorded a Low Battery Voltage fault code; perhaps disconnected the battery (as said before) perhaps leaving it disconnected overnight may be of help?
Otherwise, there must be a LR/RR Specialist nearby who can check/clear the fault code?
ECU replacement sounds way too drastic to me!
MG-Rover Questions? Click on www.mg-rover.org
|
|
|
|
|
